By Barry Coughlan
A food lover’s paradise year-round, Greater Miami & Miami Beach truly stands out during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
This annual festival, which is widely recognized as one of the country’s most prestigious gourmet gatherings, returns to Miami Beach to celebrate its 22nd anniversary from February 23-26.
The four-day destination event showcases local talent as well as the world’s most renowned chefs, culinary personalities and wine and spirits producers.
There are more than 100 events to choose from. A combination of new and repeat events is one of the keys to the festival’s long-running success. Along with the festival’s signature events, which fans look forward to every year, there are plenty of first-time events that celebrate various cultures and cuisines.
To date, the festival has raised more than $34 million in support of its mission to “EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE,” in cooperation with the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.
The new Silver Line extension of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail expansion project is finally open! Opened in November 2022, the new section of the Silver Line connects Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia to downtown Washington DC, as well as to destinations further in Virginia, making it even easier for passengers to travel around the wider region.
Numerous Virginia attractions, including some of its more than 330 wineries, 300+ craft breweries, distilleries, shopping and farm-to-table dining are now more accessible than ever with no rental car required. Fares start from $6 during the week and $2 during the weekend.
Families can take simulated missions to the International Space Station this year (April 2023) when NASA launches the first crewed flight test of Starliner, which will carry astronauts to and from the space station.
Train together like astronauts on a three-day space camp at US Space and Rocket Center, the world’s largest space museum, in Huntsville, Alabama. Feel what it’s like to walk on the moon strapped into the 1/6 gravity chair, experience a spacecraft tumble during multi-axis training, launch your own model rocket and learn about the history and the future of space exploration.
The camp costs start at $649pp for adults and children aged seven and above, including two nights’ accommodation and meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast. Underwater astronaut trainer adventures can also be added for an extra fee.
The last year has been a busy but exciting time at Bradley International Airport, with more direct flights and infrastructure improvements, including the new ground transportation center which opened in July. There has been even more investment to services and amenities along with a new look website.
To top it all off, Bradley International was named 2nd Best Airport in the country by leading travel publication, Condé Nast Traveller.
A big boost has been the resumption of services to Ireland by Aer Lingus at the airport next month from March 26.
The service will operate daily through October and offer connectivity to 28 key UK and European airports, including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome and Prague.
“Bradley has a reputation as being an accessible, convenient airport that makes travel easier for people who live throughout the northeast and it has been enthusiastically welcomed by Governor Ned Lamont.
“Bradley is a key economic driver for our state, and the more airlines and destinations that we can add from the airport, the more attractive Connecticut becomes to companies that are seeking to grow their own operations here. I am glad to welcome Aer Lingus back to Connecticut.
“We are opening up key cities and regions in the United States to Irish and European customers, by adding new transatlantic routes to our schedule. Aer Lingus is forging ahead with its North American expansion plans, growing the number of transatlantic routes from its Dublin hub.”
Meanwhile, Aer Lingus Chief Executive Lynne Embleton pointed out: “The restart of the daily flight into Bradley International Airport is the only direct service to Europe, reflecting Aer Lingus’ ability to connect North American customers with Europe.”
And Tony Sheridan, Connecticut Airport Authority Board Chair added his seal of approval when he said: “We are thrilled about this major milestone and to once again offer connectivity to Dublin, with a renewed opportunity to also showcase Connecticut to the world.”
Aer Lingus inaugurated its operations at Bradley International Airport in 2016. The service was performing well and reaching growth milestones until, after nearly four successful years and thousands of passengers served, it was interrupted in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
When Aer Lingus returns to Bradley International Airport, its nonstop service will be operated by an Airbus A321neo LR, Aer Lingus’ most sustainable long-haul aircraft. The Airbus A321neo LR, which comprises both business cabin and economy class cabin, delivers up to 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions and close to 50% reduction in noise footprint when compared to previous generation aircraft.
Tickets for the new service are available to purchase, with roundtrips to Ireland starting from $459 and to other European points from $659, including taxes and charges.
Further details can be found at www.aerlingus.com.